So about a year ago I bleached all of my (3A) curly hair, which went over fine because my hair was very healthy (CG for three years.) But then I went to touch up my roots....and got the bleach everywhere else on my scalp....and my hair broke off massively at the root. m a s s i v e l y. I cried.

Anyway, intense protein treatments to the rescue, and I saved the rest of my hair. My curl pattern was totally random and wilted, but with continued treatment it would curl, which was a step up from you know, not curling at all.

I have several inches of new growth now. If I stretch the hair at the nap of my neck, it is a little past my shoulders. I guess this is where I should mention that my hair was down my back. I cut a good six inches off a few months ago, and I REALLY cannot go shorter. Can't. Unless you want to see me cry.

The problem is my new growth is super thick and has my really nice old curl pattern. Which I guess isn't THAT much of a problem, but it doesn't blend in with my thin, limp old hair at all. It is WAY too short for me to consider chopping all the old hair. I really don't have the face for it. But I'm struggling to make my hair not look like a freakshow! My new growth is soooo pretty and I don't want to damage it by relaxing or overusing heat products but I'm SO frustrated with my hair.

I sorry this was a novel... Any advice on any ways I can style my hair to be more congruous? Either the top less curly or the bottom more?

Honestly your only options are constant protective styling like the transitioners from relaxed to natural use, or a 'big chop'. There is nothing healthy that will make your fried hair look thicker or curlier. I wish there was, I'd have used it myself!

The best you can do is maintain it as it is with hydrolysed protein, coconut oil and honey treatments. Any ingredient that thickens hair or makes it curl more (if they work) raise the cuticle and/ or dry hair out so will worsen damage and frizz.

Almost everyone can suit the right shorter style, you would do best with a really experienced curly hair stylist. Six inches of healthy hair is a lot to work with. In no way do I want you to cry, but it's not forever, your hair will grow. Maybe once you have cut work on faster growth with optimal nutrition, regular exercise, scalp treatment products, daily massage?

One point about what to do, I always see people just picking a stylist with hope and no arming. With something as important as our hair, which we all feel defines us so much, and especially with so much damage, it would be worth every penny to find someone whose hair you like, or find a recommended stylist if you are lucky enough to live in an area that has a lot of reviews on the stylist finder, and basically interview them. Go in for a wash and style, talk to them, search search for pics of what you think might work, that looks like YOUR hair and ask the sylist for ideas and pics. Nothing wrong with forming a plan, of seeing if you can get on board with the stylist to work as a team. I'm with Firefox in that really there are only two options. But it IS summer (no better time for a big chop), your hair WILL grow and you might be happier with hair that is not damaged (and I hope you will find a more viable option than home bleaching after this), OTOH, it IS summer and you can find some kind of updo that is summery and gets your damaged stuff out of sight more and let it grow until you can chop it off. At any rate there are times you really need to go to a professional, but you don't have to dive in blind. Try to find someone who has the same vision as you for your end hair and make a plan. It's not something that will get to your vision overnight. But you'll feel better having a plan. (and it might keep you from other disasters).